Chapter Thirty-Six: Why Don’t You Give It a Try

“Are you going to sleep with Big Sister tonight?”
“No, I want to sleep with Qiu’er and Dong’er. I’m the big sister, I have to tell Dong’er a bedtime story.”
“You… telling a story?”
Tan Jin’er looked in surprise at her little sister, who was missing a front tooth. “What story are you going to tell?”
“I’ll tell the story of the two little pigs. Dong’er loves it. She even oinks like a piggy when she hears it.”
Jin’er: “…Then you go ahead and tell your story. By the way, you drank too much milk today. Are you going to wet the bed again tonight? You did last night.”
Xier: ⊙﹏⊙
“I did not wet the bed! It was Dong’er who wet the bed!”
Little Dong’er, just wriggling her way to the doorway: (＞＜)。
“Xier, you wet the bed and made my pants wet. Dong’er only wet her own little panties.”
Qiu’er giggled, mercilessly exposing the truth.
“I did not! I’m the big sister, I don’t wet the bed!”
Xier argued loudly.
“You silly goose! You even made my pants wet!”
Little Bai joined the ranks, siding with the truth.
Xier: (｀Δ´)!
“Qiu’er, Bai, it really wasn’t me! You have to believe me! I’ll ask Big Sister to tell you a story, okay?”
“Okay!”
The two little ones turned bright, expectant eyes to Tan Jin’er.
Tan Jin’er: …
She’d just been sold out by her own little sister!
She gathered the four little ones into their bedroom, settled them each in bed, and began telling a story.
This was a novel delight for Qiu’er and Bai; neither had ever experienced a bedtime story before.
Xier grinned from ear to ear, hugging Dong’er tightly as if she were her own little doll.
Yang Qing happened to pass by the door. He paused and listened for a while, a smile at the corner of his lips, then quietly left.
Jin’er was a good girl and a good big sister. He had to set a good example as well—he would keep his promise to Chun’er.
He threw his tired body onto the bed, and his consciousness slipped into the system.
First, he glanced at the system tasks.
Amazing! Jin’er’s pancake roll proficiency had reached sixty percent. She was truly a deft and skillful little cook!
Mama Bai’s “Delicious Porridge” was at forty percent, still needing more effort.
“Time for a draw. I’ve got five achievement points left. I hope I can get the right one in one go. Great System, please help me out!”
Yang Qing prayed devoutly.
A hum sounded—the wheel spun, the draw began.
“Ding! Congratulations, host, you’ve gained one point of Charisma!”
The system announced the result, and Yang Qing was baffled.
Charisma? Increased charm?
But what use is that to me? I don’t make a living off my looks!
“Oh well, let’s keep drawing.”
With a sigh, the wheel spun again, consuming another achievement point.
“Ding! Congratulations, host, you’ve gained one point of Constitution!”
“Oh, Constitution. That sounds useful.”
Yang Qing guessed it must be to enhance his physique, but as for the effect, he couldn’t feel it yet. He exited the system to see if there was any immediate change.
Let’s keep drawing!
“Ding! Congratulations, host, you’ve gained one point of Insight!”

In an instant, Yang Qing felt a cool clarity in his mind, and his thoughts became sharper.
“Insight is a good thing! But only two achievement points left, and I still haven’t drawn the song for Chun’er.”
“Maybe… let’s do a double draw!”

A moment later…
“Ding! Congratulations, host, you’ve gained one point of Insight!”
“Ding! Congratulations, host, you’ve drawn the song ‘Primary School Student’s Patriotic Version of The Mohe Ballroom,’ with a bonus of the original version of ‘The Mohe Ballroom’!”
It’s here! It’s finally here!
Thank you, great System!
Feeling his mind cool and clear again, he exited the system in excitement.
“Ah, achievement points are gone again,” Yang Qing sighed. He suspected the system was doing this on purpose.
Otherwise, why would it take five draws to get the song instead of just one?
Without achievement points, he’d have to earn them through tasks—perhaps this was the system’s way of urging him forward.
“Even though I’m out of points, the rewards this time are pretty good, especially that point of Constitution!” Yang Qing marveled.
At that moment, he felt his body brimming with strength, all the accumulated fatigue washed away.
“With a strong body and good health, long live well-being! Time to listen to the songs.”
Closing his eyes again, the system projected a screen in his mind, playing the song and displaying the video.
As he listened and watched, Yang Qing’s expression grew more solemn.
“You bravely defend the motherland, every inch of its land; it’s your unwavering faith that guides me like firelight.
The red star is like your eyes, resolute and unflinching; it is you who have given us this wonderful life.”
The lyrics and melody of this patriotic version of “The Mohe Ballroom” were simple, but they stirred the blood with passion.
Though performed by a primary school student, her clear voice carried immense power.
It conveyed the new generation’s love for the country, their gratitude and admiration for the bravest souls, and at the same time expressed their own faith and hopes.
“This is a wonderful song! Perfect for Chun’er and the others to learn—not just the song, but the patriotism within.”
“The future lies with us all. Let us cherish the pioneers and live up to our youth!”
Yang Qing was moved. He calmed himself and then listened to the original version of “The Mohe Ballroom.”
A few minutes later, Yang Qing opened his eyes softly, the melody echoing in his mind.
A slightly low voice lingered with a sorrowful tune, singing of deep longing and a persistent, reluctant guard.
The song didn’t erupt with force or roar, but it had a quiet, ever-present intensity, like gentle rain soaking into the heart.
“Whew…”
“Both songs speak of love—great love and small love. They’re both excellent.”
Yang Qing breathed out gently, a hint of a smile at the corner of his eyes.
This draw was worth it!
Wait… there’s also that point of Charisma.
Ah, what a chicken rib, easy to overlook.

The night was silent, free of worries, and dreams held no thoughts.
At five in the morning, the alarm woke Yang Qing and also woke Tan Jin’er.
As usual, Yang Qing first coached Tan Jin’er on her pancake roll skills, reminding her to keep practicing, then began teaching her the “Delicious Bun” technique.
Afterward, he wandered over to Mama Bai’s porridge shop. Bai Zhijun happened to be there today, and watching Yang Qing instruct his wife on making porridge left him a bit bewildered.
At seven, Bai Zhijun took the three little ones to school. Shortly after half past seven, customers arrived, and Yang Qing returned to his own shop to get busy.
A little after noon, when Yang Qing and Tan Jin’er had just seen off the last lunch customers and were preparing to make their own meal, Fang Du arrived right on time, carrying a chicken and a fish.
“Oh, you had time to come by today? And you brought chicken and fish?” Yang Qing asked curiously.
Fang Du glanced at Tan Jin’er, his face slightly flushed, and smiled. “I was passing the market after work at noon, so I bought some for Qiu’er and Xier to help them build up their strength.”
At this, Tan Jin’er looked away, her gaze evasive. Unlike her emotionally dense boss, she could clearly see what Fang Du meant.
“Haha, that’s great! You haven’t eaten lunch yet, have you? Why not stay and eat with us?”
Just as Tan Jin’er expected, Yang Qing really was emotionally clueless; he didn’t sense the silent exchange between them at all and invited Fang Du with a smile.

“Is… is that alright?”
Fang Du was actually delighted inside, wishing he could agree at once, but he had to keep up appearances.
“Of course! Let me tell you, Jin’er’s cooking is incredible. You’re in for a treat today!”
Yang Qing cheerfully called for Tan Jin’er to join them, then pulled Fang Du toward the stairs.
“There’s a small kitchen on the second floor where we can make home-style dishes.”
When the three of them went upstairs, they saw two little girls each riding a rocking horse, watching cartoons.
Another little one was playing with building blocks, her tiny bottom stuck out.
“Big Brother!”
“Big Sister! Hiahiahiahia…”
“Brother Fang Du!”
The two little ones called out sweetly, one after another. Fang Du immediately smiled and pulled a handful of candies from his pocket.
Their eyes sparkled with delight.
“Thank you, Brother Fang Du!”
“Hiahiahiahia… Candy! Thank you, I like you so much!”
The two little girls accepted the sweets, giggling.
“Oh, you came prepared—do you always carry candy?”
Yang Qing gave a little “oh,” and before the embarrassed Fang Du could answer, he turned to the girls.
“You can only have one piece of candy a day, or you’ll lose your teeth. Xier, stop smiling—I’m talking about you, you always want two at once.”
“Hiahiahiahia… I’m so happy!”
The little one who got the candy was over the moon, laughing non-stop. Helpless, Tan Jin’er had to step in.
Watching Tan Jin’er, ever the responsible big sister, confiscate the extra candies, Fang Du looked a bit down, as if he’d done something wrong.
Seeing this, Yang Qing patted his shoulder and said with a laugh,
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. They’re little, too much candy isn’t good for them.”
Fang Du: …
Honestly, your “comfort” is worse than nothing!
“By the way, do you have a computer? Can I borrow it?”
Yang Qing told Fang Du to make himself at home, poured him a glass of water, and asked.
Fang Du nodded. “Yeah, I have a laptop. When do you need it? I’ll bring it over.”
“Is this afternoon okay?” Yang Qing smiled. “Chun’er is performing for Children’s Day, and I want to edit a video to go with her song.”
“You can edit videos? You know how?” Fang Du was surprised.
Yang Qing: “Mm, just a little. By the way, how’s the film you shot of me coming along?”
“Not done yet,” Fang Du shook his head. “I checked this morning—the editor is about to pull his hair out.”
“Huh, is it that hard?” Yang Qing was baffled.
“Seems so…” Fang Du shook his head. “I don’t really know about editing, but from the look of it, the editor finds it tough. He said the footage is so good, he can’t decide what to cut, and the later parts…”
“Gah!”
Halfway through, he looked thoughtfully at Yang Qing, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
“Yang, you said… you can edit!”
“Uh, just a little bit…”
“That’s great! Why don’t you give it a try?”
Yang Qing: ＼(〇_ｏ)／
Give it a try? Try what?
Didn’t you hear me say just a little bit?
Fang Du thought, I did hear, but maybe your ‘little bit’ is actually a lot!